Readers sound off on misbehaving kids, unemployment fraud and rental assistance

Bronx: As a gainfully employed 63-year-old woman, born and raised in NYC, I thought I had seen it all. Monday gave me an all-new perspective on raising children.

While on my lunch break, standing in front of my place of employment, a young woman walked past me pushing a stroller with a toddler inside and accompanied by a 5-year-old girl. While I was just standing there minding my business, the child walking took it upon herself to try to spit on me for no reason. Well, to say I was appalled is an understatement. It got even better: After the child’s despicable act, the mother did not even acknowledge it. When I told the mother, “You need to get your child,” she looked at me like I was crazy and kept walking, saying absolutely nothing to the child.

Raising two children of my own, I would have been embarrassed to witness any of my children performing such a horrible act, and yes, I would have corrected them at that moment. I also would like to make a point: Children do not know what is right or wrong unless you teach them. Not holding a child accountable for doing something bad and not letting them know that that type of behavior is on the list of “do not do, it is wrong” means the child will grow up assuming it is fine. There will be repercussions.

Please teach your children simple etiquette on how to behave, especially among strangers. Trust me, it will make your life less problematic. Arlana Solomon Girven

Parkland, Fla.: Reading the story about the quick-witted little boy who evaded a possible kidnapping by asking a cashier in a Pennsylvania store to “act like you’re my mom” should serve as a reminder to all parents to drill their children about how to act when approached by a stranger. Kudos to the little boy, kudos to the lady in the store and kudos to his parents who taught him well. John Squicciarini

North Massapequa, L.I.: I was surprised by the article scrutinizing former President Donald Trump’s speech regarding his 2024 presidential run (“Still full of Donsense,” Nov. 17). I had no idea there were any fact-checkers around anymore — they seemed to have disappeared and been replaced by disinformation specialists. Wow, now that I know you’re on the job, I look forward to your fact-checking article after President Biden gives his next speech expounding on inflation, gas prices, border-crossing numbers and where illegal aliens are being moved to. Many of your readers can’t wait to see these facts. Ken Duffy

Rockaway: Not Ron DeSantis, but Trump is the sanctimonious one, with his tired insults delivered as grave pronouncements. And those rabid followers! Wow. Too late for the Jim Jones cult, they are hopping on the Trump “Poller” Express, going down the wrong track again with a leader who not only won’t deliver but is definitely off the rails! Hooray! G’bye. Maureen McNelis

Jamaica: Donald just wants to get under people’s skin. Voting for him is like voting for Hitler for chancellor if he were still alive. He’s trying to cause a lot of anxiety. Let’s all give him the kick in the pants that he deserves. I can’t wait to get out there and vote. Joseph Stanislaus

Roosevelt, L.I.: Whoever hung a noose at the construction site of the Obama Presidential Center must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. That behavior is unacceptable, and legal consequences must be carried out. The center constitutes a historic, golden opportunity to build a state-of-the-art, world-class public museum that embraces America’s first Black president, Barack Obama, and First Lady Michelle Obama, on the South Side of Chicago. The evil trinity of racism, classism and sexism against the nation’s first Black president and first lady must never be tolerated as business as usual. America must develop, implement and spread a mindset for change. Yes, Black Lives Matter! Arthur L. Mackey Jr.

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Bronx: I thoroughly agree with Voicer Maria Saporito. Lately, Sunny Hostin has been insufferable to watch, especially in the way she treats Alyssa Farah Griffin. She is rude and condescending. As far as racism goes, it just proves that it’s not limited to white people. As an openly professed Catholic, Hostin should practice her faith a little more. Mary Ann Guarneri

Lakewood, N.J.: So New York State and the Andrew Cuomo administration lost at least $11 billion in unemployment fraud, according to your article “$11 billion plague of unemployment fraud in year 1 of pandemic: audit” (Nov. 16). Why was there no mention of arrests or criminal complaints in this story? Are the taxpayers supposed to just shrug their shoulders and go about their business as if nothing happened? Absolutely not! They should bring in a special prosecutor and go after every bum who cheated and stole from the state’s taxpaying public — with intense scrutiny of the Labor Department. I’m sure there were plenty of inside shenanigans! But let’s not hold our breath. Just keep voting these crooks into office. What a disgrace! John Yalango

Henderson, Nev.: Climate activist Greta Thunberg plays by her own rules. While she harshly criticizes the United States for wasting energy, I don’t recall her ever saying a word about China. She lectures us about our hope for a strong economy yet she now reportedly has $1-$2 million. Finally, she questions us about our choices of transportation, yet there goes Greta traveling with her parents in a private yacht around the world. What a little hypocrite! David Tulanian

Staten Island: To Voicer Laurie Joan Aron: I have also been closely watching the progress of the Arthur Kill Terminal and agree it is a win for renewable energy and a big win for the economic future of NYC, especially Staten Island. Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican, went with the interests of her constituents and against those of her party by voting yes to the infrastructure bill (only 13 House Republicans voted yes) and she has recently allocated $48 million to begin dredging, which is the first step in the process. I am wondering why I have never read anything in the Daily News on this initiative. Seems like a story worth telling. Gina Ottrando

Snohomish, Wash.: The affordable housing crisis is contributing to homelessness across America. City mayors like New York’s Adams are struggling to make a difference (”Adams rent-aid retool falls short, advocates say,” Nov. 15). The national solution of the expanded Child Tax Credit made a big difference by slashing child poverty by 40% and helping families pay bills and rent and buy food. Sadly, it wasn’t renewed. Mayors across America can lobby their members of Congress to renew this ladder out of poverty and pass a similar tax credit for renters, like what was proposed by Sen. Cory Booker and then-Sen. Kamala Harris, would end 11 million Americans paying 50% or more of their income for rent. These solutions can provide immediate relief for families across the country. Willie Dickerson

Fort Myers, Fla.: Re “Gov. Hochul, make the mental health of Black and Brown youth a priority” (op-ed, Nov. 17): New York must also destigmatize mental illness. I regret to say that we are too busy stigmatizing it to stop. There is a broad phalanx of people instructing us in that prejudice, which we must first overcome. Harold A. Maio

Yorktown Heights, N.Y.: To Voicer Mildred Manham: Police officers must qualify at least once a year with their duty weapons. This is usually done at the range, where they fire at a stationary target at different distances. The officer usually has several seconds to aim their weapon at the target. In real life, confrontations between an officer and a subject are when they are about 25 feet apart. The subject can close that distance in as little as one second. This does not give the officer time to aim, especially since the subject is moving, making it very difficult to hit the person who is trying to harm them. William J. Griggs